Category: Issue 54, August 2017

As a new semester begins, K-State Housing & Dining Services is recruiting students to work in the dining centers.

Did you know?
• Students don’t have to work a tremendous number of hours. New freshmen will not be scheduled more than 12 hours a week. Many students choose to work only 6 hours per week then pick up substitute shifts when they want to.

• Working in the dining center provides an extension of K-State’s educational environment. Only a few hours of work a week provides social opportunities that often last a lifetime. Students learn many valuable work skills, including communication, decision making, judgement, leadership, teamwork, and dedication. These skills are central to success in the careers students are aspiring to have. In fact, many of these valuable work skills are communicated in resumes and interviews that freshmen will need all too soon. Students begin at $8.00/ hour, but more important than the wage is the educational benefit work provides.

• We believe students’ academic success is the top goal and we assign work schedules to support this belief. Student schedules are made around class schedules and never would we expect a student to skip class because of a job. Nor do we expect that they be here during breaks such as Thanksgiving, semester, and spring.

• Research has shown that students do better academically when they have to balance schedules and be organized. Based on the research results, it is likely that working a few hours a week can create an environment that improves study skills, time management, and thus academic success. Of course, the research is not suggesting cause and effect but there is a correlation between academic success and managing time effectively.

The floors have been waxed and buffed, there’s new paint on the walls, desks, chairs, and a magazine rack have all been selected from the university surplus website. A student is working away on a website and a social media strategy is being developed. New K-State Food Pantry Coordinator, Erin Bishop, has finished all these tasks, along with a list of other items, all within her first two weeks on the job.

Erin earned two degrees from K-State, and considers herself a lifelong Wildcat. She proudly shares that her grandmother lived in Van Zile Hall during WWII. Since graduating with her master’s degree in 2008, Erin has worked in mental wellness, substance abuse counseling, and academic advising. In addition, she found that her work with K-State Research and Extension and UFM Community Learning Center fueled her passion for volunteer service, community gardens, and ensuring student success by breaking down barriers that impede their learning and success.

The Kansas State University All-University Career Fair is next month! This opportunity, open to students of all majors and disciplines, is a great way to connect with hundreds of employers looking to hire K-Staters!

The Career Fair is hosted from September 19-September 21 and students will have the chance to be recruited for full time jobs, internships, and co-op positions.

Students will need to join Handshake, the Career Center’s recruiting and career services platform for K-State students, alumni and employers. Students and alumni can use Handshake to easily connect with employers, search for jobs and internships, review career fair/event information, and manage on-campus interviewing.

Sarah Barrett literally followed her dreams and came to Kansas State University.

“I had a dream three weeks before (high school) graduation and I decided to switch … to K-State,” she said. “I went to my guidance counselor the next day and she told me I missed basically all the deadlines, but everyone worked with me and I came to school.”

That was back in 2004.

She now works at the university as a Cleary Act federal compliance coordinator, making sure the university reports crimes properly, helps with federal aid, grants and “continues the mission of serving students,” she said.

However, she also recently turned her personal struggles into her passion and second aspect of her job.

Your students will have experiences outside of the classroom while attending Kansas State University and we want them to be meaningful. K-State 360 is a way to make those experiences count for something.

Students can track areas in which they are developing skills in teamwork, diversity, leadership, problem solving, communication, and career development. K-State 360 is designed to give students a competitive edge for future success.

It’s simple: a student can easily sign up and check-in through their smart phone and record their attended events and activities on campus. Upon completion of the program they will receive a co-curricular transcript to share with future employers, graduate or professional schools and will receive K-State 360 alumni benefits. Continue reading “K-State 360 is Here!”→